DRMS' Principal Message
Happy Sunday, Dolphins! This is Kristen Faircloth, proud principal at Durant Road Middle School, with your September 17, 2023 Family Message.
National Hispanic Heritage Month begins in September! National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed in the United States from September 15 to October 15 to recognize and celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Join us in celebrating and honoring the immeasurable contributions of Hispanic Americans to our economy, culture, and society.
September 10 - 16 was Arts in Education Week! During this week, the field of arts education joins together in communities across the country to advocate, educate, and celebrate the impact and transformative power of the arts in education. A special shoutout to Kelly Durham, DRMS Band Director, Carolyn Mercer, DRMS Art Teacher, and Kaitlyn Moore, DRMS Chorus Teacher, for being strong advocates for the arts and making the arts come alive for our students.
Please take a moment to read through the Family Message below, as well as the grade level newsletters, and do not hesitate to contact us if there is any way we can support you.
Family Information Night
Thank you to all the families that provided feedback regarding topics of interest. Based on your input, DRMS is hosting a Family Information Night on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 from 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Parents and guardians are invited to attend to learn more about Canvas, the learning management system students are using in their classrooms, as well as PowerSchool. Parents and guardians should bring their child’s Chromebook with them to the session. An English and Spanish session will be offered as well as light refreshments. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 20.
School Garden Grant
We are excited to share that DRMS has been selected to receive a school garden grant through the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation! The vision is for the garden to provide opportunities for accessible, hands-on, FUN learning for all students at DRMS.
*Unfortunately, we need to POSTPONE the garden workday that was scheduled for Saturday, September 23. We will communicate as soon as possible when the new workday has been rescheduled.
DRMS Athletic News
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Football: 9/21 (Thursday) - @ Heritage (Away Game)
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Girls Soccer: Monday - Thursday 3:30 - 5:00 (Practice)
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Cheerleading: Monday - Thursday 3:30 - 5:30 (Practice)
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Volleyball: 9/20 (Wednesday) - @ Heritage (Away Game)
Just as a reminder, all student athletes will be responsible for a ride home. We do not provide transportation home from tryouts. If you want to learn more information on the specific sports, please visit our athletics website https://wakecountyathleticzone.com/durant-road.
Also, parents and student athletes, please check the Sportsyou app regularly. Coaches will be sending important messages on the app for communication purposes. Student contracts were also due on Friday, September 15th. If you did not turn one in, please do so by Monday, September 18th.
DRMS Spirit Week
“We’ve got spirit, yes we do, we’ve got spirit, how about you?” Our first SPIRIT WEEK is coming and scheduled for the week of September 25. Check out this flyer and start preparing now to show your DRMS Pride the week of September 25!
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Monday, September 25 - Rock Your Crocs Day
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Tuesday, September 26 - Happy Holiday Day
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Wednesday, September 27 - Outer Banks/Island Day
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Thursday, September 28 - Football Day
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Friday, September 29 - Freaky Friday
Fall Picture Retakes
Fall picture retakes are scheduled for September 26, 2023. If you would like to retake your pictures, please return the purchased packet on September 26. Any student that is new to the school or was absent on the initial picture day, will be able to have their picture taken as well. You can order pictures here.
2023-24 Yearbook
The 2023-2024 DRMS Yearbook is on sale now! From now until the end of September, the yearbook will be on sale for the lowest price all year! Along with the lowest price, students can get four free icons to personalize their yearbook! Use this link to purchase: https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01095208 Please reach out to Mrs. Robertson, the yearbook advisor, with any questions at sdrobertson@wcpss.net
8th grade families, your students are in their last year of middle school! Celebrate their achievements and accomplishments with a yearbook ad specifically for them. To purchase an ad, go to www.jostensadservice.com/student.
Reach out to Mrs. Robertson (sdrobertson@wcpss.net) with any questions!
PS: don't forget to order your yearbook too at www.jostensyearbooks.com
Science Olympiad Team
Durant Road MS will be building a Science Olympiad team this year for the 2024 competition season. Science Olympiad is a science-based competition with over 20 different topics to compete in. Please see the websites below to get more information about the competition. If your student is interested, they can fill out the link HERE and if you are able to coach or help in any way, please fill out the interest form HERE.
https://www.youtube.com/user/scienceolympiadtv and https://www.soinc.org/events/2024-division-b-events
Student Attendance Notes
Thank you to the parents for sending in notes when your students are absent. Please do not forget to include your student's first and last names along with the date(s) of their absence.
Electronic Devices
Our school has noticed an increase in students misusing technology and we need our families' help in supporting our school-wide expectations with their students.
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Each student has a WCPSS-issued device. Students should bring their devices to school each day fully charged and have their charger in their backpack to use if needed.
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Cell phones and headphones should be turned off and in the student’s backpack at all times unless instructed by the teacher.
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Please help your child stay focused at school by not texting them during the school day.
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Students should follow directions the first time they are given by the teacher, like putting their technology away.
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Students should refrain from viewing school-inappropriate sites and using technology for the purpose of harassment or bullying, including the use of social media.
Students who do not follow this expectation may have to give their device to the teacher for the rest of the class, keep their device in the front office for the duration of the day and pick it up during dismissal, or the device could remain in the front office for a parent/guardian to pick it up from school. Additional consequences could be imposed for students who do not follow the directions of the teacher.
Meal Benefits
Apply for free and reduced-price school meals
To receive free or reduced-price meals for the 2023-24 school year, families must submit a meal benefits application online at MySchoolApps.com. Paper copies will be available at your school’s office. For families who completed the 2022-23 meal benefits application, the benefit continues for their student's first 30 school days of the 2023-24 school year. At elementary schools, full-paid breakfast will be $1.50 and lunch will be $3.25. At middle and high schools, full-paid breakfast will be $1.75 and lunch will be $3.50.
All families must complete an application for the 2023-2024 school year in order to receive benefits. Please allow 10 business days for processing.
For every student that turns in the free and reduced meals application and qualifies, the school also receives federal funds that benefit the students and teachers at the school.
We need you to complete a 2023-2024 meal benefits application so our school can be eligible for extra funding next year. If you have not completed a free or reduced-price meal application and think your child may be eligible, pick up an application at your child’s school or apply online.
A student’s status from the 2022-2023 school year will roll over to this current year; however, it only carries them forward for the first 30 operational days or until a new application for the 2023-2024 school year has been processed.
DRMS PTA
JOIN THE Durant Road Middle School PTA
Your school PTA is working hard and we need your help. Why should I join the PTA? Membership dues help support your child by helping us with funding for essential education and curriculum needs. Our board is small but made up of parents and community leaders who want to help our school support our children to the best of our abilities.
Right now, we are focused on membership and looking to raise our membership in our school. Our goal is 100 parents and 100% faculty membership.
If you have not joined, please join now.
We have a raffle for all members who join now at the beginning of the year. A Yeti Cup raffle for parents and for faculty. Your name will be entered and one parent/community member and one faculty member will each be selected. We will draw winners the last week of September, before track out.
We look forward to working hard this year for our DRMS families and welcome all to DRMS.
PARENT/GUARDIAN QR Code and Link to join PTA for 2023-2024
https://drms.memberhub.com/store/items/12672
Thank you for supporting DRMS,
Kristen J Faircloth
Principal
